POSTURE AT THE COMPUTER

By: Dr. Donna A. Pontoriero, Chiropractor

You might not think that an activity as sedentary as sitting all day at a computer could be physically risky. But you'd be wrong. Here are some factors to consider when looking at your workspace, whether it be at home or in an office:

Your computer monitor should be directly in front of you, so that you don't spend hour after hour looking down, or up. Your natural eye, neck and head position should be about two to three inches below the top edge of the monitor.

Make sure your feet rest on the floor six to eight inches in front of your knees.

Adjust your chair so thers is support for your lower back and, so you can lean back at an angle of 100 to 110 degrees. Sitting erect is not only tiring, but tough on the muscles between your shoulder blades.

The keyboard should be two to three inches below the level of your wrists and you should have a wrist support pad in front of it. When you use your mouse, put a folded-up washcloth under yyour wrist for support or get a mouse bad witha built-in gel support, and rest your elbow comfortably on the arm of the desk chair so that there is no strain on your shoulder.

When typing a document into the computer, use a fastener that secures the document at the same level as the monitor.

Setting your work station up properly can go a long way in helping you avoid the aches and pains that can come from long stretches at a computer.

Please contact our office if you would like further evaluation on your condition.